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Pistons roadie in NY

By J.M. Poulard

Mar 3, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) is defended by Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) in the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit won 96-85. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) is defended by Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) in the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit won 96-85. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Essentials

  • Teams: Detroit Pistons (0-3) at New York Knicks (2-2)
  • Date: November 5
  • Time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Television: FS Detroit

Get in the Game

The Detroit Pistons are in New York tonight to take on an intriguing New York Knicks team.

Under new head coach Derek Fisher, the Knicks are running the triangle offense, and it’s producing mixed results. When the Knicks run it, the players move around and look for each other with the intent of producing the best possible look. So far, they’ve gotten good results when throwing the ball inside to center Samuel Dalembert, because he’s been looking for cutters.

In the event there aren’t any, Dalembert will throw the ball back out and allow his teammates to work for another look.  It’s a great way to approach the offense even if things get bogged down every now and then because the players aren’t perfectly in sync with each other just yet.

Granted, an equal opportunity philosophy is exactly what it portends to be, and one can say it’s hurting NY’s best player—Carmelo Anthony. He’s only averaging 22.7 points per 36 minutes, which would be the lowest figure since his sophomore season in the league if it were to hold up for the entire season.

Melo’s been taken out of his comfort zone, and it’s hurt his scoring a bit. He’s moving away from his ball-stopping ways and embracing the concept of allowing the game to come to him. As a result, he’s going one-on-one less than before.

NBA.com tells us that only 38.6 percent of his made field goals were assisted last season. That number has shot up the charts all the way to 52.9 percent so far this season.

Fans are looking at a more patient Anthony, and perhaps that will pay dividends later in the season. I say later because it’s tough to argue that it’s a great development for the team at this point in time.

New York is among the league’s bottom-third offenses, which is enough to make one think that Anthony might feel he can do better by playing his own style. Interesting enough, the man himself offered as much.

“As players, when you see something that’s not working at the time, your first instinct is to use another option,” Anthony said after a loss to the Washington Wizards, per the New York Daily News’ Frank Isola. “Whether that option is to break out of the system, the offense, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Tonight was one of those nights it didn’t work.”

What does this all mean for the Pistons?

Perhaps they can limit the Knicks’ offensive production. Detroit’s defense hasn’t exactly been stellar to open up the 2014-15 campaign, but New York’s struggles might alleviate some of the burden on the shoulders of Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.

To be clear, Josh Smith and Co. will have to bring energy and effort to Madison Square Garden if they hope to steal this one, but the task should be made a tad easier as New York figures out where to get shots from.

Still, there’s always the possibility that Melo decides to break from the triangle and starts lighting up opponents in a way fans are all too familiar with. The Knicks have had lapses where they’ve gone away from the philosophy, and the one guy best equipped to go off script is Anthony.

Read about the Knicks

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